Comments on: How To Debate Politics Like A Gentlemanhttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/
Men's Interests and LifestyleTue, 18 Aug 2015 11:47:00 +0000hourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1By: CgntvDssdnthttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-1092533
Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:24:00 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-1092533Excellent article.
]]>By: Emilyhttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-476687
Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:32:50 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-476687Just reading these comments and how pleasant they were especially on a topic that usually ends up in lots of name calling is very impressive!
You are all fine gentlemen indeed :)
Keep it up! Women love it!
]]>By: Johnhttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-393220
Thu, 16 May 2013 06:19:24 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-393220In arguing politics, I prefer to use quotes from the founding fathers, particularly Jefferson and Madison, contemporaneous works, such as The Federalist Papers and Letters From The Federalist Farmer To The Republican, and the works of those who influenced them, particularly Algernon Sidney and John Locke.

If I get an argument about times changing or these being old, dead, white guys, I point to Powell v. McCormack (1967), in which the SCOTUS stated that the Constitution and amendments are to be interpreted so as to give them the meaning intended by the framers.

Few people are then able to argue against my points, and begin with insults and name-calling, to which I reply, “It has been said that those who can argue using facts and logic, do so. Those who cannot argue using facts and logic insult their opponents.” Very few respond after that.

I may have an unfair advantage, though. Aside from following politics since before my age reached double digits, and aside from seemingly being one of very few who are truly familiar with the writings of the founding fathers, Sidney and Locke, as an attorney, I am, according to my wife a professional arguer. Name-calling, innuendo, and the like will get a person nowhere in a courtroom.

]]>By: James Petzkehttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-351688
Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:08:37 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-351688I get into political debates all the time, especially with my family. I’ve learned through experience that the more understanding of the other side of the argument you are, the more likely they are to listen to you.
]]>By: Jakehttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-264601
Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:14:36 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-264601I think it was a mistake to suggest that we seek out biased news sources, from the other side of the fence. We should be seeking UN-biased information, in the hopes that perhaps the current state of political punditry withers away and dies. There ARE great (mostly) unbiased media out there, although they are probably not as popular since they dont stroke anyone’s egos. This article should have suggested places like Washington Monthly, hubski.com, Democracy Now, factcheck.org, where men can actually get informed.
]]>By: Dustin Wyatthttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-256013
Sat, 22 Sep 2012 20:43:33 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-256013I think that there are two fundamental mistakes being made in modern political discourse. First, very few people bother with original sources. A lot of people can recycle Jefferson quotes all day long, putting forth such dialog as valid intellectual thought, but very few of them ever transcend Jefferson and read Locke. Our political heritage wasn’t formed in a bubble. Our forefathers read and understood a diverse base of philosophy which helped shape their ideas.

Secondly, and more importantly, a lot of people get locked into a particular position and never revisit why they held that position to begin with. All too often people are inflexible in their thinking, and tend to miss or discount new information which may show flaws in their understanding. One will never make the world a better place, nor will they improve the lot of their posterity, if they are irreconcilably stagnant in their thoughts and awareness.

]]>By: Jarrodhttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-255982
Sat, 22 Sep 2012 19:46:43 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-255982Just reading the comments here shows that people still can engage in civil discourse (even online of all places!)

I just wish that politicians of the day could debate with some sense of civility.

]]>By: Anthonyhttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-89873
Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:57:37 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-89873I really appreciate the article, and actually generally try to engage in political discourse in much the way prescribed here, although unfortunatley I can be a little too argumentative.

I find, unfortunately, that people on the left and the right look at everything differently, not just politics. Any good discussion begins with the identification of common principles, but sometimes those principles make it nearly impossible to get anywhere. For example, I am a traditionalist conservative with a premodern metaphysical outlook (i.e., traditional Catholic). Human Nature, virtue, and sometimes even my faith come into play. For a modern or postmodern, especially a relativist, there is no discussion. We literally agree on nothing. Most liberals will not even engage in a conversation which includes both religion and politics.

At first I thought I had something profound to say, but it turns out I’m just whining, so I’ll stop there.

]]>By: Jay Knoxhttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-69964
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:24:37 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-69964Good article. Talking and Debating politics is very manly. (not that woman can’t do it either :) )
]]>By: k2000khttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/comment-page-1/#comment-44444
Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:21:50 +0000http://artofmanliness.com/?p=858#comment-44444Excellent article, it can be very frustrating living in a city were the majority of individuals don’t have the same beliefs as you do and then have the more radical individuals accuse you of being a goose stepper. On the flip side living in an area where not everyone thinks like me has given me an appreciation for why they hold their beliefs, even if I don’t agree with them. Every man should spend time in waters foreign to his own.
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